President Jacob Zuma to host SADC Extra-Ordinary Summit on Madagascar, 19 – 20 June 2009.

Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma, as Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), will host an Extra-Ordinary Summit on Madagascar on 20 June 2009 at Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. The SADC Summit will be preceded by the meeting of the Council of Ministerial Troika and the Summit Troika of the Organ and SADC Chair on 19 June 2009.

In an attempt to resolve the ongoing stalemate in Madagascar, the Chair of the SADC Organ sent an assessment Mission led by the Executive Secretary, Dr Tomaz Augusto Salomao on 6-8 February 2009.  The Second assessment Mission was deployed from 14-21 February led by Hon Lufto Dlamini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Swaziland.

On 30 March 2009, the Chair of the Organ called for an Extra- Ordinary Summit to deliberate on the internal political impasse in Madagascar. The Summit strongly condemned the unconstitutional change of Power, and the actions of the Military and of Andry Rajoelina.  SADC Summit suspended Madagascar from all the activities of the Regional Organisation until such time that the country has returned to constitutional rule.

It is against this backdrop that an Extraordinary SADC Summit is convened to further search for a sustainable political solution to the situation in Madagascar.


Media Programme for the SADC Extra-Ordinary Summit on Madagascar, 19 – 20 June 2009

Issued by Nomfanelo Kota on 082 459 3787

Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Private X 152
Pretoria, 0001

18 June 2009